Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents have abducted the wife of a Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) pastor, Rev. Moses G. Guguma, along with their three children during an attack on Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State. The incident has renewed concerns over the persistent threat posed by insurgents in communities around the Lake Chad region.
Fresh fears have gripped residents of Damasak in northern Borno after suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters reportedly abducted the wife of a Christian cleric and her three children during a raid on the community.
The victims are the wife and children of Rev. Moses G. Guguma, a pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), according to local and church sources. The attack is the latest in a string of kidnappings targeting civilians in Nigeria’s North-East.
Sources said the insurgents stormed parts of Damasak before whisking away the pastor’s family to an unknown destination.
While security authorities were yet to announce any rescue operation at the time of reporting, local residents expressed concern over the recurring attacks despite the presence of security formations in the area.
Church leaders and members have reportedly begun prayers for the safe return of the abducted family.
The incident has also heightened anxiety among residents, many of whom have endured years of insurgent violence, displacement and repeated attacks across northern Borno.
Damasak, located near Nigeria’s border with Niger, has repeatedly witnessed attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP despite sustained military operations in the North-East.
Security experts have warned that insurgent groups continue to exploit remote border communities where movement is difficult to monitor.
As efforts to locate the victims continue, residents and church leaders are appealing to security agencies to intensify search operations and ensure the safe return of the abducted family.